After yesterday's sizable defeat at the hands of the Solar Bears, the Everblades came to Orlando looking to spoil the inaugural home opener for their new in-state and divisional rival. To that end, Florida got on the right path, taking two first period leads, the first when Brandon MacLean found the net with what appeared to be fairly weak wrist-shot that handcuffed John Curry, Orlando's netminder, and when Matt Beca found space on a Florida power play, took a cross-ice feed at the right hash and quickly snapped the puck over a sprawling Curry. Both leads were short-lived, however, as Orlando found a way to make the most of its few chances in the first period. Pat Nagle, who got stronger as the game wore on, was first beat by a mid-range shot that he may not have seen much of but seemed to go through him. Then, with the period winding down, Orlando defenseman Michael Wilson took Solar Bear captain Ryan Cruthers' pass from the bench boards as he jumped into the neutral zone and began what should have been a routine 1-on-1 challenge but, after taking the puck to his backhand and protecting it, beat the Florida defender wide and somehow chipped the puck past Nagle, who looked to be in good position. Orlando took the longest-lasting lead when Solar Bear forward Nick Peterson drew Charles Landry to him as he stopped just inside the Florida blueline, then layed a nice, on-side touch pass to a hard-charging Danis-Pepin who deftly avoided the reaching stick-check of Bobby Raymond and capped the sequence with a heavy, well-placed wrist-shot that beat Nagle's glove just two minutes into the second period. The last scoring action before the shootout came when Beca scored his second of the game during a frantic goalmouth scramble that tied the game at three goals apiece with just a couple minutes into the final frame. The shootout went twelve rounds, with Orlando's Medvec and Hutchings the only two shooters to score on either goalie until Sean Lorenz beat Nagle five-hole and Curry squelched Florida's last hope when he subsequently came to the top of his crease to stop Aaron Bogosian's wrist-shot attempt from in-close and seal the win for the Solar Bears.

Alex Hutchings didn't register an official point (though he scored in the shootout) but had a good showing tonight, playing effectively at even-strength, the PP and even on the PK in a few instances. Results-wise, he probably deserved better, as he rifled several shots that narrowly missed or were blocked and also sprung Florida forward Corey Trivino for an even-strength breakaway that Curry was able to thwart. Hutchings also showed a lot of moxie, taking plenty of punishment in stride tonight and even managing to dish out a few decent licks of his own. Landry's night, on the other hand, was more of a mixed bag. Despite playing big, mostly uneventful minutes, Landry got sloppy with outlets and in-zone passes on several occasions, the most notable instance when he used the end boards behind his net to blindly bank a pass to his partner which was intercepted by a hustling Solar Bear forward and nearly became a goal.

Other thoughts and notes: Florida outshot Orlando 35-29 tonight, although at one point, midway through the third, the shots were 30-14 Florida before Orlando generated an impressive late-game surge. Perhaps strong emotions and some extra aggression should have been expected given this was the fourth meeting in just over a week's time between the two clubs; the game was, much to the crowd's delight, very physical for much of the game and, as a result, tempers flared early and often, especially after whistles. Both teams, consequently, combined for 59 penalty minutes. Daniel Milan and Maxime Langelier-Parent, still nursing injuries, sat again. Florida (2-1-1) plays host this Wednesday to South Carolina (2-1-0) as part of a two-game set.

The previously undefeated Grizzlies held Alaska's trio of NHL forwards (Crabb, Dubinsky and Thompson) scoreless, despite their combined 13 shots on goal, in what turned out to be a goalie duel. Alaska's Mark Guggenberger earned a 23-save shutout but Utah's Andrew Engelage did all he could for the Grizzlies, stopping 38 of 39 shots against. Chris Haltigin scored the lone goal in the contest early in the third period after the puck found its way to him in the high slot as a result of a strong Aces forecheck generated a turnover. With the win tonight, Alaska halted its two-game losing streak. The Aces (2-2-0) will continue their home stand next Friday when the new San Francisco Bulls franchise (2-1-0) comes to Anchorage for a three-game weekend set.

The final score about says it all as the Orlando Solar Bears took the Florida Everblades to the proverbial woodshed this evening in Estero. The game quickly got ugly midway through the first period as Orlando scored four times in a six-minute span, putting Florida in a hole that would be four goals deeper by the end of the second. Ryan Cruthers (2 G) and Matt Sisca (3 A) led the onslaught for the Solar Bears, which outshot the Everblades in each period and 49 to 22 for the game en route to the new franchise's first win this season and in its extremely brief history. Carolina Hurricanes prospect G John Muse, who stopped 20 of 25 shots on the night, started the game for Florida but was finally pulled after Kyle Medvec made it 5-0 Solar Bears roughly seven minutes into the second. Pat Nagle would fare only slightly better in relief. Alex Hutchings (who tallied his first point of the season, an assist on Florida's first goal which came in the final frame) and Charles Landry were in lineup tonight and, on a night where the opponent scored seven even-strength goals, both managed to avoid minus ratings. Daniel Milan and Maxime Langelier-Parent sat due to injuries. It will be interesting to see if and how Florida Head Coach Greg Poss will tinker with the lineup for tomorrow night, when Florida (2-1-0) travels to Orlando (1-1-1) in what will be the Solar Bears inaugural home opener at the Amway Center.

Alaska (1-2-0) lost it's home opener and second consecutive game, despite putting up 35 shots and only allowing Utah (3-0-0) to get 22 of their own on net. Nate Thompson remains scoreless on the season while Washington Capitals forward Joey Crabb was back in the lineup and registered an assist, his fourth point in two games (2G, 2A so far). Brandon Dubinsky of the Columbus Blue Jackets finally scored his first goal with the Aces. Both teams square off again Saturday night in Anchorage.

For the second consecutive night, the 'Blades got the best of the Solar Bears but this time, with all of the players assigned to the Everblades from the Crunch in action, they didn't need overtime to get the job done. The going was good early for the Everblades as they jumped out to a lead which they would never relinquish just a few minutes into the game. Matt Marquardt (twice), Justin Shugg and Maxime Langelier-Parent all scored for the Everblades, with Langelier-Parent, in his season debut, burying the dagger late in the third period with a short-handed empty-netter. Pat Nagle, seeing his first action this season, was sharp in net for Florida, stopping all but two of 35 shot attempts by Orlando. Charles Landry found the stat-sheet with a primary assist on Marquardt's first goal, the first of the game, and with a tripping minor late in the third. Alex Hutchings and Daniel Milan were quiet tonight. Up next for Florida (2-0-0) is another weekend set yet again against the Orlando Solar Bears (0-2-0) although the games will be split between Estero (Friday) and Orlando (Saturday).

Tonight the Aces, featuring Lightning's Nate Thompson and the Blue Jackets' Brandon Dubinsky, fell short against an Eagles club that got a dandy of a pro debut from G Adam Brown, who turned away 23 of the 24 shots he faced for the win. It was a penalty-filled contest but both teams struggled to make the other pay for their infractions as Alaska went 0-for-10 and Colorado, faring little better, went 1-for-9 on the power-play. Nate Thompson picked up a roughing minor in the second period and managed the second-most shot attempts for his team. Alaska (1-1-0) now returns home to host the Utah Grizzlies (2-0-0) next Friday and Saturday.

The ECHL preseason got underway for the defending champion Florida Everblades on Friday night, as they the return of the Orlando Solar Bears with a 6-3 victory.

ORL – 3
FLA – 6

Lightning prospect Pat Nagle went the distance in net for the ‘Blades, stopping 29 of 32 shots. Dan Milan, playing his first professional game, was scoreless with a shot on goal and two penalty minutes.

The Syracuse Crunch have announced that they have reassigned goaltender Pat Nagle and defenseman Daniel Milan to Florida of the ECHL. Nagle played in 39 games for the Everblades last season, while Milan is entering his rookie professional season.